To begin with mySelf is the only way to start. Who can I know best? Myself. I know my mind, my body and my soul. No one else knows me like I can come to know myself. And it is a journey, an exploration into all the facets of my being. It scares me, but how do I express myself if I don’t know who I am? How do I form relationships with others if I don’t know how to be in relationship with myself?
So, I found a way to get to know mySelf. I’m using a knowledge base called IFS (Internal Family Systems). It uses a systems theory to explore the human psyche. I have learned to access the very essence of who I am, that “little fire” that now burns bright, that spark that kept me going, that wouldn’t ALLOW me to give up—not completely; that is what I have found as my essence, of who I truly am…and, everyone has this essence! How cool is that?!?
If you’ve ever meditated, you have likely experienced this life force inside you. In IFS it is called the SELF (not a pretty label, but it recognizes who we truly are) and labelling it allows us to identify and distinguish it from other parts within us. The Self is recognised by its compassionate, calm, curious, courageous, creative and confident qualities. It is also identifiable as having clairty and an ability to connect with its own parts, other beings and the universe. It is the essence of what joins us together as a human species.
You may have experienced your Self through other forms of meditation, as mentioned previously, or in other therapies such as Wise Mind in DBT. It simply doesn’t have all the negative attachments we display towards ourselves and others. It is positive energy that flows through us, that we recognize as something greater than the messy parts within us…it may not be perfect, but it is all that is good, maybe more than we can imagine right now. Finding this essence within us is vital to our survival as human beings on this planet. Without it, the world is a very scary place.
Spending time experiencing this life force, therefore, is extremely important if we are to find common ground among us for moving forward. Exploring all the facets that force us into communion with each other–politics, religions, relationships, love, education, play, work, illness and community–needs to come from a place of common ground so we can invite the rest of our parts in to experience the beginning of something so profound, we might not recognize it ourselves.
As I embark on this journey, I’m sharing it because I believe it is essential to life. Risk analysis? At worst, you think I’m a crazy old lady and laugh at me; at best, you explore your Self and recognize your essence!
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Life's Lessons and Mental Health 